Demont Downs Yuen in Sekisui Open

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World No.104 Geoffrey Demont bridged a large gap in the world rankings to take out number four seed Ivan Yuen in the second round of the Sekisui Open, PSA M15 tournament and secure his place in the last eight.

The Frenchman, who has achieved both a runner-up and a semi-final finish in his last two PSA World Tour events, lost out in the pair’s only previous fixture back in 2012 but put in a mature display as he recovered from a game down to claim a 9-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-9 victory over the World No.63.

“I’m so happy to win that one,” said Demont.

“Last time we played I lost 13-11 in the fifth game with a match ball so I was expecting a tough game and it was. I feel I made too many mistakes but I still got the win and that is what matters the most today.”

Demont will face off with Australia’s Joshua Larkin for a place in the semi-final after Larkin followed up a fine opening round win over Piedro Schweertman with a strong display against Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong.

South Africa’s Tristan Eysele is the only qualifier to remain in the tournament after he upset Reiko Peter with a stunning comeback from 2-0 down. Eysele was on the ropes early on after four-time PSA World Tour title winner Peter built up a seemingly unassailable lead to take the opening two games, but Eysele came back from the brink to edge to victory in the next three games, sealing his spot in the next round. Defending champion Kristian Frost Olesen is set to meet Eysele in the last eight after the Dane overcame Dimitri Steinmann.

Edmon Lopez Moller, the World No.136, caused the day’s other big upset with an impressive straight games triumph over eighth seed Evan Williams, a player ranked 47 places above him. An even tougher fixture against title favourite Greg Lobban beckons for Moller in the quarter-final after the Scotsman dispatched Czech qualifier Daniel Mekbib.

There were also wins for second seed Raphael Kandra and number five seed Mahesh Mangaonkar who will do battle for a place in the last four after they prevailed over Mark Fuller and Bernat Jaume, respectively.

Results – Second Round: Men’s Sekisui Open 2016
[1] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [Q] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6
Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP) bt [8] Evan Williams (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-7
[Q] Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt [6] Reiko Peter (SUI) 3-2: 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10
[3] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt [Q] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11
Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt [4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-9
Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-1: 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (50m)
[5] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Mark Fuller (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 13-11, 11-3

Draw – Quarter-Final
[1] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Edmon Lopez Moller (ESP)
[Q] Tristan Eysele (RSA) v [3] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN)
Geoffrey Demont (FRA) v Joshua Larkin (AUS)
[5] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) v [2] Raphael Kandra (GER)